PHNOM PENH Jan. 29 Kyodo (EDS: UP...

PHNOM PENH Jan. 29 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH EMBASSY establish ON FIRE)

Thousands of angry Cambodian close examiners on Wednesday vandalized and wager fire to the Thai Embassy in the capital Phnom Penh to avow alleged derogatory remarks by a Thai television star.

At least 10 cars parked inside and outside the embassy commute were set on fire and Thai-owned businesses in the Cambodian capital were attacked in the daylong declaration which began peacefully.

The police said several family were injured, including some police officers. All embassy personnel had earlier been safely evacuated from the compound

centurys of riot police and several fire engines were dispatched to the pageant However, burning cars prevented firefighters from entering the burning embassy building, prompting fears that it could parch to the ground overnight.

The testifys were sparked by a Jan. 18 report in the local Rasmei Angkor newspaper quoting Thai actress Suwanan Kongying as saying in a fresh Thai television interview that she would solitary ever accept an invitation to perform in Cambodia if the fane of Angkor Wat in northern Cambodia is go [i]or[/i] come backed to Thailand.

The newspaper also quot her as saying, ''I hate Cambodians because Cambodians stole my Angkor Wat. If I will be reincarnated in nearest life, I prefer to be a dog rather than to be a Cambodian national.''

The actress in succession Tuesday denied ever having made of the like kind remarks.

However, the protester demanded an apology from her. ''We want her to publicly apologize to Cambodian the bulk of mankind for claiming Angkor Wat belongs to Thailand,'' said the same of the protesters.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen waded into the process in law on Monday, saying that if Suwanan indeed made the remarks attributed to her, her value among Cambodians would be ''cheaper than several bushes of grass at Angkor Wat.''

He allude toed all six TV channels in Cambodia resolve into or stop showing Thai movies, especially those starred in through Suwanan.

Khieu Kanharith, secretary of state for information confirmed to Kyodo moderns on Wednesday that he has asked all TV stations to temporarily stop airing Thai movies amid the spread of outrage.

onward Tuesday, Suwanan held a pres conversation in Bangkok, telling reporters, ''I guarantee that I not at all said that Angkor Wat belongs to Thailand. Our production team has checked the taped television displays newspaper interviews and screenplays. We didn't find any statement related to this at all.''

''I personally don't have any bias against Cambodia,'' the actress said. ''On the contrary, I have always said I would like to visit Cambodia and would be fond of to visit Angkor Wat because it is a magnificent destination.''

She pleaded for understanding from her Cambodian fans, and said she felt ''sorry those allegations pain so many people.''

Angkor Wat, located in Siem Reap Province, is single in kind of the world's greatest in number impressive architectural marvels and in inscribed along with other churchs of Angkor on the World Heritage List.

Complet in the 12th hundred years the temple is regarded as a national treasure and obeys as an immense source of national pride for Cambodians.

The Nation, a Thai daily, onward Wednesday quoted Chulalongkorn University researcher Watcharin Yongsiri as saying the influx of Thai consumer consequences and culture into Cambodia has made Cambodians choleric of Thailand.

It quot Dhawaj Boonnotoke, a Southeast Asia quick at Burapha University, as saying the uproar might be politically motivated.

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